CHAPTER XXII
A HEADSTRONG FRIEND
Ralph was faint and dizzy-headed with all that had transpired in the last twenty minutes.
He felt that he had been in the peril of his life. He bestowed a look of immense gratitude on Slavin.
"You came in time," said he. "How shall I ever thank you?"
"Cut it out," growled Slavin grimly. "I ain't through yet. I've been watching these skunks for an hour or more. I knew that Stiggs, who has gone on a little jaunt with his wife to see some relations, would never give those reptiles the free run of his house. I fancied burglary at first. Then when you came I knew it was something deeper. Well, it's the finishing touch. I suppose, in your usual soft-hearted way, you want to beg them off from further punishment, don't you?"
"It strikes me they have got about all the punishment they can stand at present," suggested Ralph.
"O, that's just a starter," announced Slavin. "Keep your eye on Slump for a minute."
Ike had fallen across the sofa. He was moaning-and half-stunned. He kept moving his hand over his bare and tingling gums, making a horrible, hollow, hissing sound every time his breath exuded.
"The dentist for you," said Slavin in cold unconcern. "This one is delegated to the hospital, I guess."
The speaker approached the prostrate Bemis.
"Speak up, there," growled Slavin savagely. "I've a little business with you, Mort Bemis. Where are those two silver medals that you stole from me?"
Bemis only wriggled and groaned. Slavin kicked him. He sat up with a howl of pain.
"Pawned," he whimpered.
"Where?"
"At Barry's cigar store."
"For how much?"
"Two dollars."
"Hand it over."
"I haven't a cent. Oh, you've half killed me. Oh, my head! my head! Don't—don't hit me again. Slump has some money. Pay him, Ike, pay him."
Slavin advanced from Bemis, now sitting up on the floor, towards Ike, with a menacing manner.
"I'll pay, I'll pay," whined Ike. "Here, here. I haven't go any change. Five dollars," and with celerity he extended a banknote.
"Three for delay and damages," stated Slavin, coolly pocketing the money. "Now then, you two, walk humble, or I'll finish this job right here and now."
Slavin took up the ropes that had bound Ralph. Quaking with mortal terror, Bemis and Slump in turn allowed him unresistingly to tie their arms behind them.
Slavin picked up the "nutcracker." He looked it over and placed it in his pocket.
"If that bit of evidence don't send you over the road, I know what will," he observed grimly. "March."
He forced the two prisoners forward, holding to an arm of each. As they got outside, Ralph asked:
"What are you going to do with them, Slavin?"
"Anxious to know, are you?"
"Yes."
"Then keep us company, and see. Oh, I'm not sassy, Fairbanks. I'm only doing what you ought to have done the first break they made at you—called in the law. These fellows are dangerous. I'm going to cage them."
The prisoners spoke not a word. Bemis had received a fearful fistic punishment, and was blubbering. Ike Slump kept up a mumbling sound with his lips, as if trying to get used to the lack of teeth.
Slavin led them through the town by dark and unfrequented streets. When they reached the railroad tracks, he made for a crossings shanty.
The flagman had gone home for the night, but the door was secured by a catch only. Slavin marched his prisoners inside, drew a lantern from under a bench, pushed them to the bench, and lit the lantern.
"You rest a while," he directed them "Court will open soon. Fairbanks, will you do an errand for me?"
"What is it, Slavin?"
"I promised the road detective, Bob Adair, to send him word when I found these fellows."
"I'm out on bail. They can't bother me till my trial comes off," mumbled Ike Slump, making a grimacing, painful job of talking intelligently.
"Rest easy," advised Slavin grimly. "This is quite another round. Find him, Fairbanks."
"You think that is best, do you?" inquired Ralph. "These fellows"
"See here, Fairbanks!" cried Slavin, almost angrily, "you'd actually let them go, after they had pretty nigh put you out of commission forever. In this case I don't want your advice, good as it usually is. I know my programme, and I intend to carry it out to the last letter."
Ralph saw that it was useless to oppose his vigorous friend and champion. He left the shanty forthwith, and went up to the depot. It was some time before he could locate Mr. Adair. When he finally found him, and explained simply that Slavin wished to see him, the road detective joined him briskly, and look pleased.
"About Slump, I suppose?" he inquired eagerly.
"I think it is," answered Ralph.
"Good," said Adair. "The company thinks that bailing out business was rushed through. The bond was only five hundred dollars. They don't understand old Farrington's peculiar interest in the matter, and we have been ready to re-arrest Slump for a week."
Adair gave prodigious start as, entering the crossings shanty, his eyes lit on the faces of Slavin's two prisoners.
"Whew!" he whistled slowly—"you seem to have had some trouble with your friends, Mr. Slavin."
"You hear my story, and see if I gave them any more than they deserved," said Slavin, and he stood up, looking like a judge and talking like a judge, and narrated the incidents of the preceding hour.
"Now then, Mr. Adair," added Slavin, "these fellows brag of having a friend in that old miser, Gasper Farrington. I tell you that I happen to know that he has tried all kinds of ways to scare and bribe my friend here, Fairbanks, away from Stanley Junction. I suppose he's rich, and so tricky you can't connect him with their doings, but you can cage these fellows safely, and I want you to do it."
"The railroad company will certainly insist that Slump's bond be raised from five hundred dollars," spoke Adair. "You told me that Bemis very nearly wrecked a train by magnetizing the levers at the depot switch tower. Can you prove it?"
"I can," nodded Slavin emphatically.
"Very good. To-night's business there is no question about. It's a case of murderous assault and attempted mayhem. I shall see the prosecuting attorney at once, and demand that each of these prisoners be held in heavy bonds."
"I think that will hold them," said Slavin, in a tone of satisfaction. "I've got a charge against them, myself. They robbed me of two silver medals."
"We will take them at once before a magistrate," said Adair. "You'll have to subscribe to the warrants, Slavin. You, too, Fairbanks."
Ralph simply bowed acquiescence. Slavin had taken the matter out of his hands. It was better so, Ralph readily realized. He did not believe that Farrington would go on their bonds for any large amount. This might lead to a rupture, and the prisoners might be induced to implicate the magnate, and tell what had become of Mrs. Davis.
"Come on, you!" spoke Slavin, roughly pulling his prisoners to their feet.
"You look out!" snarled Mort Bemis savagely. "See here, Mr. Officer, this fellow talks big, but he himself tied up a set of levers at the switch tower."
Slavin turned red. He looked at Ralph in a shamefaced way. Then he said bluntly:
"Yes, I did, Mr. Adair. That skunk got me to. It was before I knew Fairbanks—before I knew better. I give myself in charge for the act. I'm willing to suffer for it."
"Nonsense !" cried Ralph quickly.
"Do you make the complaint?" asked Adair.
"No, sir!" spoke Ralph emphatically.
"Nor would you appear against him?"
"Hardly!"
"You had better keep your mind on your own business then, Mr. Bemis," advised Adair.
"I call that a good night's work," said Slavin to Ralph, one hour later.
Mr. Adair had legally presented his evidence and the prisoners to a new magistrate.
Ike Slump and Mort Bemis were remanded to the town jail in default of bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars each.
"Now," observed Ralph, as he parted with the strange, forceful companion who had proven so good a friend to him—"now to wait and see what Gasper Farrington will do next."